The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Brushing Primer?

Im restoring a 65 Chevy. I have access to a sprayer and booth to paint the whole truck when ready, but in the meantime I work on it in my garage. My uncle said he saw someone brushing primer on some truck show on tv, using self leveling primer. Brushing on primer would help me alot as I could do one panel, one door, etc at a time, plus there would be lest waste of material. And I do not have a sprayer or compressor at home...

So, anyone heard of brushing on primer? Or self leveling primer? Would it create too many a lot of work with brush stroke marks? Anyone done it?

Hi Oswalds65, Welcome to the bolt!

I haven't heard of it, but then I've been out of the loop, professionally for a while. If you can't work out a compressor and a gun, then I would stick to good old fashioned spray can primer to work one panel at a time. At least it is still a spray. Brushes have always been reserved for houses in my travels.

Oswalds65Chevy,

I haven't done the brush deal, but have some thoughts on it. It would seem to me that any true automotive primer would be too 'fast' to paint with a brush and not leave heavy brush marks.

If it were along the lines of a RustOleum primer, which might be reduced with mineral spirits and give time to flow and level, then it wouldn't be the proper base for any automotive paint applied over it.

There are lots of things floating around in the realm of auto paints, tractor/implement paints etc...so this might be a do-able thing. Keep us posted and good luck!

Stuart

I am like Tomcoe. I have been out of the loop professionally for a few years. I know when I was working in a body shop one of the painters had a problem painting a car that someone had done their own primer job on. They used a spray can primer and it was incompatable with the type of finish.I think the primer was lacquer & the paint was enamel.I guess just make sure the primer base is compatable with the finish paint.

I've never seen it done with a brush, but I did see a tech article in Car Kuture DeLuxe a few months back were they used a roller to paint flames on an AD hood. Didn't look too bad. I'll bet you could roll the primer on easier than spraying. Besides, you're going to have to sand it anyways, so the texture won't be any trouble at all.

Thats what I was thinking, It will be sanded anyway, just might make for a little more sanding.

There is two part epoxy primer in a spray can available now. Martin Senior was talking about it in a couple of posts. Would work better than brushing.

If you go to an automotive paint store, they might have some available. There is a product in my area that is a primer, filler and sealer It can be applied with a roller , brush or spray. Its about $100 bucks a gallon. I'm going to try it out with a weenie roller.

They used it on TRUCKS on Powerblock TV. It's a filler/surfacer primer.

Goodness, what is gettin filled that needs to be rolled on? The surface should be pretty darn straight at the time of primer application.

Are you talking about a polyester primer? That is a very high filling primer which is basically like a skim coat of "bondo".

I like it, it has it place. But unless you REALLY need some filling, it should be passed on.

Most all manufacturers have it by the way. PPG, S-W and smaller companies like PCL and Evercoat.

Brian

I have used polyester on my truck. Should only be used sparingly. One of the nicest paint jobs i ever saw was on a harley by a local fellow (now passed on) with a brush. I don't know for sure how he primed it, but he brushed on several coats of lacquer, one at a time, hand sanded each one,progressively finer until he was just buffing it. Would be a lot of work. I have used Martin Senor spray bomb primer with good results.

I guess that I am a 'hack'. I have rolled it on with a small (3 inch roller from Lowes) with much success.

Thin it as recommended, roll it on, and lightly sand. I use rustoleum brand and paint a truck for under $100. Worst case is you get an '8 foot paint job'. If in the future I want a 'professional' paint job I believe I can strip this off and do it that way. I currently do not have the money.

I also use my trucks (55 2nd and 53) for work and not as trailer queens. I don't put them in competitions and have no trophies. I am fine with that.

Go for it. My 2 cents.

Oh, I wish I could find a hardener for the rustoleum. It looks nice and fades the way I like it because I want the trucks to look old and used. But the paint is soft. I would like to find a hardener or a clear coat to lay on top.

I do have a large compressor and spray gun. Rustoleum, when thinned, will spray very nicely.

Thanks

? is do you want it done or do you want it done good and right

Ive seen guys brush that pors primer on before.